But, before this had been accomplished, there arrived in town
some personages whose names it will be necessary to mention here,
the figure they made at court being considerable. These were Sir
George Hamilton and his family, and Philibert, Chevalier de
Grammont. Sir George was fourth son of James, Earl of Abercorn,
and of Mary, sister to James, first Duke of Ormond. Sir George
had proved himself a loyal man and a brave during the late civil
war, and had on the murder of his royal master sought safety in
France, from which country he, in the second year of the
restoration, returned, accompanied by a large family; the women
of which were fair, the men fearless. The Hamiltons being close
kin to the Ormond great intimacy existed between them; to
facilitate which they lived not far apart--the duke residing in
Ormond Yard, St. James's Square, and the Hamiltons occupying a
spacious residence in King Street. James Hamilton, Sir George's
eldest son, was remarkable for the symmetry of his figure,
elegance of his manner, and costliness of his dress. Moreover,
he possessed a taste shaped to pleasure, and a disposition
inclined to gallantry, which commended him so strongly to the
king's favour, that he was made groom of the bedchamber and
colonel of a regiment.
His brother George was scarcely less handsome in appearance or
less agreeable in manner. Another brother, Anthony, best
remembered as the writer of Grammont's memoirs, was likewise
liberally endowed by nature.
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